Umbrella



April 19, 1938. A GR|SSEL 2,114,598

UMBR ELLA Filed June 19, 1935 ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 19, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIE Application June 19,

Claims.

This invention relates to umbrellas and the like, particularly toumbrellas having a collapsing framework designed to be manipulatedthrough the medium of cords and the like.

To supply the need for an umbrella that is extremely simple in structureand hence very cheap to manufacture, there is provided in this inventiona construction for the framework of an umbrella that dispenses with theusual rib and spreader structure found in the old types, which is verycomplex and expensive to fabricate. The old type of umbrella is alsodangerous in that it often pinches the fingers of the operator. Thestructure about to be described overcomes these difiiculties bydisclosing a method of employing cords to manipulate the spreading ribsof the umbrella. Its simplicity assures cheapness, so that a market fora cheap article can be supplied, where the person purchasing the articlemay desire to use it for only one time and then throw it away.

It is therefore, a principal object of this invention to provide anumbrella which employs a system of strings or cords for manipulating thesame to extended position.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an umbrellamechanism in which the operator cannot pinch his fingers during themanipulation of the same.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a framework foran umbrella that is extremely simple and cheap to manufacture.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a framework foran umbrella in which 'a relatively rigid structure will carry thetensions attendant upon the opening action or those found in the membersof the framework while the umbrella is in use, so that the material usedin the hood of the umbrella will be substantially free from stresses.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an umbrellaframework which will be suitable to be covered with relatively fragilematerial such as paper and the like.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following descriptionand appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawingforming a part of this specification wherein like reference charactersdesignate corresponding parts in the several views.

Fig. l is a sectional elevational View of the umbrella showing therelation between the operating parts.

Fig. 2 is a plan view substantially along the 55 line 2-2 of Fig. 1,showing the manner in which 1935, Serial No. 27,352

the ribs of the umbrella are attached to the central staff.

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevational view showing the details of theoperating parts of the central staff, the operating strings beingomitted. 5

Fig. 4 is a section thru the rib, substantially along the line 3-4 ofFig. 1 showing the method of attaching the covering to the rib.

Fig. 5 is a section of a modification of the supporting collar.

Before explaining in detail the present invention it is to be understoodthat the invention is not limited in its application to the details ofconstruction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and ofbeing practiced or carried out in various Ways. Also it is to beunderstood that the phraseology or terminology herein employed is forthe purposes of description and not of limitation and that 2 it is notintended to limit the invention herein beyond the requirements of theprior art.

In the preferred embodiment of my umbrella, I have provided a centralstaff it which supports the framework used in placing the umbrella intoextended position, and at the same time gives the user a convenientsupport for holding it in position over his head while it is in openposition. The staff It is of hollow construction having a cavity runningits entire length, through which are threaded the cords used to operatemy novel umbrella, as will be described in detail later.

On the upper end of the staff Hi, there is provided a cap ll held inposition by small lugs I2, which may be held in place by welding or anyother convenient means. The cap H protects the upper end of the cavitywithin the hollow staff lli, so that no water may leak therethrough incase my umbrella is used in rain. To allow access to the cavity, the capit is displaced a short distance above the end of the staff it to alloweasy passage of a system of cords used to manipulate the umbrella. Inorder that the cords may not be chafed in their passage through the gap,the edges of the cap, the lugs, and the upper end of the staff ID arerounded.

On the lower end of the central staff It, there is provided a handle I3to form a convenient grip for the hand of the user both while theumbrella is in actual use or while it is being carried in case of need.The cavity in the hollow staff H) extends to the lower portion of thehandle l3. On the upper end or on the side of this handle, there isformed an anchor means for the cord. It may consist of two prongs l -lspaced a short distance from the central staff, the narrow space betweenbeing utilized for the wrappings of the cord.

The framework of my umbrella which is supported by the central staffconsists of a set of radially positioned ribs l; there being eight inthe preferred embodiment, but there may be any convenient number used,depending upon the material of which the hood of my umbrella is formed.These ribs are attached to the central staff M3 by a supporting collarI6, which is positioned relatively near the upper end of the staff. Thesupporting collar 86 embraces the central staff IE3 and may be fastenedthereto by any well known means, as by brazing. The ribs 15 cooperatewith the collar through a hinge construction, which may consist of ashort section I! of the rib bent at right angles with the centralsection, the section I! being threaded through an embracing lug l3struck on the upper edge of the supporting collar l6. To prevent the rib$5 from becoming disengaged with the supporting collar it, a small lugI9 is bent on the end of the section ll, which prevents the rib fromslipping out of place.

The ribs l5 may be made any suitable proportionate length and of anydesirable cross section, as for example in the present embodiment thecross section is circular. If desired greater strength may be obtainedat the supporting point on the central stair [0 by reinforcing thesupporting collar it with a second-collar 20 embracing the first. Thesecond collar 20 fits snugly about the embracing portion of thesupporting collar E6, and is of such length that it does not inter ferewith the hinge action between the ribs and the supporting collar 5.

On the distal ends of the ribs l5, there is formed a bent-up section 2|,substantially in the shape of a U. The upper branch of the U is providedwith an eye 22 in which the operating cords 23 can be convenientlyattached. The lower branch of the U which is part of the rib proper, hasattached to it by tying a perimetric cord 2 which joins together all theends of the ribs l5 and holds them firmly in a uniform relation witheach other when the ribs are fully extended. The perimetric cord 24prevents the ribs from moving beyond a predetermined angle with thecentral stafi, and in this way limits the opening or extending action ofthe ribs when they are under the pulling influence of the operatingcords 23.

The perimetn'c cord 24 also tends to give the framework of my umbrellarigidity by holding the ribs IS in a definite angular relation with eachother when they are in fully extended position. This allows the use ofrelatively fragile material such as paper, cellophane, and the like toform a covering for the ribs.

The operating cords 23 referred to above are fastened to the individualribs I5 on their distal ends by means of the loop or eye 22 formed atthat point for this express purpose. The cords then extend inwardlyalong radial lines to the gap formed between the upper end of thecentral staff If! and the cap H, and are then threaded through thecavity within the stall". They extend below the handle where they areconvenient for manual operation of the umbrella. At some point below thehandle, all the cords 23 are tied together by a knot or clasp 26, sothat when the knot is pulled, the cords will be displaced equally andeach of the ribs IE will move in. unison with the others. A tassel 21may be provided with the knot if desired.

The covering or hood 28 of my umbrella may be of any suitable materialthat will turn water or stop sunlight, such as silk, cotton, impregnatedpaper and the like. It may be attached to the framework and ribs bymeans of small elongated saddles 29, which embrace the individual ribsI5 and are pasted to the inner side of the hood. This is clearly shownin Fig. 4. The hood 28 is attached to the central staff III by crimpingit into position to form an embracing collar 30 about the staff. To holdthe collar 30 in position, there is provided a boot 3|, made of flexibleor semi-rigid material, which embraces the collar 30 with its lower endat the point where it is in contact with the central staff, while theupper end of the boot embraces the staff snugly at a point slightlyabove, forming in this manner a water-tight joint. The connectionbetween the boot 3| and the central staff Ill may be strengthened by acord wrapping 32 if desired.

The jointure of the hood 28 to the central staff I0 is furtherstrengthened by means of an inner collar 33 which embraces the staff ata point just below the supporting collar Hi. It is attached to the innerside of the hood 28 in any suitable manner, as by pasting. This innercollar 33 tends to strengthen the saddles 29 at their upper ends toprevent the loosening of the hood from the ribs l5.

When the umbrella is in collapsed position, a holder of any convenientform may be provided, which embraces the distal ends of the ribs [5 whenthey lie parallel with the central stafi It. This feature is well knownand need not be described in detail.

The operation of my umbrella is as follows: As the umbrella under normalconditions is carried about the person of the user in collapsedcondition, it is first necessary to remove the embracing band from aboutthe distal ends of the ribs, so that they will be free to be placed intoextended position. Then holding the umbrella with the tip downward tocause the ribs to become slightly displaced from the central staif sothat the cords can efiectually pull at their ends, the operator graspsthe tassle projecting below the handle and pulls in outwardly, which inturn pulls the tips of the ribs away from the central staff into fullyextended position. When the fully extended position is reached asdetermined by the perimetric cord, the operator places the cord into itsanchor clips found on the upper end of the handle, and effectually windsit therein until it is assured that the umbrella will be held inextended position.

Should the user desire to collapse the umbrella, he must first loosenthe cord from the anchor and then collapse the ribs into their closedposition substantially parallel with the central staff. The encirclingband is then replaced to hold the ribs in this position. The operatingcords with their knot and tassel will be in their initial position withthe knot adjacent the handle.

I claim:

1. In an umbrella, a hollow central staff, ribs pivotally attached tothe staff adjacent its upper end to allow movement of the individualribs severally in radial planes, cords attached near the outer ends ofthe ribs cooperating with the upper end of the bore of the staff andpassing therethrough to extend the ribs, holding means cooperating withthe ribs to limit the movement of the ribs to a predetermined angle withthe staff, and anchoring means adjacent the lower end of the staff tocooperate with the cords projecting from the bore at the lower end ofthe staif to hold the ribs in extended position.

2. In an umbrella, a hollow central staff, ribs attached relatively nearthe upper end of the staff by hinges to allow movement of the ribs inradial planes, holding means cooperating with the ribs to limit theirmovement to a radial sector somewhat less than a right angle subtendedfrom the lower end of the staff, cords attached adjacent the outer endsof the ribs and cooperating with the upper end of the bore of the staffand passing therethrough, the cords being manipulable at the lower endof the staff to pull the ribs outwardly to extend the umbrella, andholding means cooperating with the lower end of the staff to anchor thecords and hold the ribs in extended position.

3. In an umbrella frame-work, a hollow central staff, a supportingcollar attached to the staff adjacent its upper end, ribs attached tothe collar to allow movement of the ribs in radial plane, a manuallyoperable system of cords attached adjacent the ends of the ribs andpassing entirely through the hollow staff to extend the ribs in theirradial planes, holding means to limit the movement of the ribs through apredetermined angle with the central staff, and means cooperating withthe cords projecting from the lower end of the central staff to anchorthe cords and hold the ribs in extended position.

4. In an umbrella frame-work, the hollow central staff, a series ofrigid ribs extending radially from the staff and hinged thereto adjacentthe upper end thereof, a system of cords extending from the lower end ofthe central staff through the bore of the central staff and cooperatingwith the ribs adjacent their ends to extend the ribs to their operableposition by manual manipulation at the lower ends of the central staff,holding means to limit the movement of the ribs to a predetermined anglewith respect to the central staff in their radial planes, and meansadjacent the lower end of the staff cooperating with the cords to anchorthe ribs in extended position.

5. In an umbrella frame-work, a hollow central stafi, a series of ribsextending radially from the stafi and attached thereto by hingesadjacent the upper end of the staff to allow movement of the ribs inradial planes, a system of cords joined together at their lower ends forconvenient manual manipulation and extending through the hollow centralstaff to the upper end thereof where the individual cords cooperate withthe ribs adjacent their ends, holding means to limit the movement of therib with relation to the staff and the angular relation between theindividual ribs when they are in extended position, and anchor meansadjacent the lower end of the staff to hold the cords when the ribs arein extended position.

SUSAN A. GRISSEL.

